Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-20
JOHN lAUER IS A FREE MAN
The Jury in the Famous Trial Find a Yer
dict Of mot Guilty"
SCENES IN THE COURT ROOM
Lauer Sends a Telegram TO His
Mother-His Plans For the Flu.
ture-Othcr Local
News,
Lauer Acquitted,

| hO i1oct uIpOit anu SCHSdtlOhui
| criminal case in the history of Omaha
was disposed of at 9:40 o'clock last night,
when the jury in the case of the state of
| Nebraska vs. John w. Lauer, appeared
before Judge Neville with verdict of
mot guilty" The case was given to the
jury at o'clock yesterday afternoon and
the promptness with which verdict was
reached was matter of very general
surprise. From the beginning of the
present trial the opinion was general
that the prosecution would fail to con.
vict the accused of the crime of murder
in the first degree, for which he was in
dictcd. Public interest has lessened in
the case since the verdict of manslaugh.
ter, which was returned at the first
trial year ago. While it was
| the general belief that Lauer would not
be found guilty of an offense punishable
by death or Imprisonment for life it was
hardly expected that Il verdict of any
kind would be reached within twenty.
four hours. The feeling that the Jury
would disagree widely prevailed. Conse.
quently, when the jury announced
shortly after 8 o'clock last night that they
had arrived at q verdict, there were but
few spectators in the court room. Deputy
Sheriff Grebe hastily summoned Judge
Neville and Lauers attorney, Judge
Thurston. When the jury filed into the
court room there were present the court,
the prisoner and his faithful sister,
Judge Thurston and wife, the court Of
| ficers and dozen or more spectators.
Lauer sat by his attorney, paler than
| usual and decidedly nervous. He cast
one glance at the jury and then faced the
court and sat quietly awaiting
the verdict. Judge Thurston appeared
confident. Miss Lauer sat near her
brothers side and faced the jury with a
look of mingled fear ami hope. When
the court called for the verdict the fore
man arose and announced it. The words
mot guilty. spoken in a low tone of
voice by the foreman rang through the
| court room sending thrill through every
person present. A second of oppressive
silence followed when Judge Neville
said:
us this your verdict gentlemen?"
1T is" SAID the twelve jurymen, in
unison. Judge Thurston was the first to
move. He grasped Lauer's hand and
congratulated him and his sister warmly.
Lauer, into whose face a new colCr had
sprung, turned and than ked the Jury for
their verdict and shook each of them by
the hand. Judge Thurston also thanked
them warmly for their fair ruling and the
patient manner in which they had served
through the lengthy trial. Miss
Lauer was the most delighted
person in the room. She
threw her arms around her brothers s
neck and kissed him and then turned to
them over and over and thanked them
from the fullness of her heart for giving
her brother back to her, a free man. The
court, after discharging the jury, joined
in the congratulations. After general
handshaking the audience filed out of the
court room. Lauer hastened at once to
the telegraph Office to wire the glad news
BEE reporters query as to how he felt
and what he proposed to do, he replied
that he felt like man who had Justice
done him. A great load had been lifted
from him, although he had felt along that
in fair trial he would be acquitted. He
said he would remain in the city until he
could settle up his business and then he
his mother lives. and make that city his
home. He was profuse in his expressions
of gratitude to his counsel who have
labored 80 zealously in his defense. He
also spoke Of his appreciation of the fair
treatment he adreceived at the hands
of the press during the trial just closed.
Immediately after the jury had the
NAL ballot was faken resulting, z for
acquittal and for conviction. The first
formal ballot resulted the same.
On the second ballot one of the jury
men went over to the side of the defense.
making it 8 to 4 in favor of the accused.
On the third ballot ten men voted for
acquittal and two for conviction. After
general discussion of the case fourth
ballot was taken, a few minutes after
O'Clock, resulting in a unanimous vote
for the acauittal of the accused. When
the jurymen were discharged they sep.
arated, most of them going directly to
their homes. Jack Goodman, of Water
loo, and j. t. PLANT, of Jefferson pre-
cinct, remained in the jury room all
night and will leave for their homes this
morning.
The Closing Scenes.
The Lauer trial came to n conclusion
at $3.50 yesterday afternoon. About
o'clock General Gown concluded his
read his charge to the jury and the
twelve men filed out OF the chamber to
their private room to decide the fate OF
the man who has been on trial for his
life. The court room during the after.
noon, as indeed during, the morning,
was fairly jammed. The gentler sex
composed the larger element of the
throng. Long after the jury had gone
out the crowd remained in the room,
hoping for speedy return of the verdict
The hands on the great clock over the
clerks desk denoted o'clock and after
before the court room was fairly clear
Lauer and his devoted sister Miss Mi
nerva Lauer, remained for an hour or
two in the judges private apartment ad-
joining the main court room on the south
Only a friend or two were present. Lauer
paced restlessly up and down the room
with his hands folded behind him.
now and then stopping to exchange a
word with his sister The latter, who
from beginning to end has been the
staunchest friend her brother has had
has changed terribly since the first day OF
the second trial. Her cheeks have be-
come paler and thinner. the dark circles
about her eyes deeper and darker Dur
ing the last few hours of the trial she has
broken down yisibly and the panied look
upon her face would deepen into one OF